Every time Darren Doucette settles his hulking frame into the batter's box at the World Baseball Challenge, a wave of anticipation rolls through the crowd.
Everybody likes to see home runs, and Team Canada's designated hitter has made a career out of delivering them in jaw-dropping, high-fiving fashion. For that reason -- and the fact he's simply so much bigger than everybody else on the field -- the six-foot-four, 300-plus-pound Doucette is a fan favourite.
It's true this year, and was also the case when Doucette made two previous appearances on Prince George ball diamonds. He was here for the 2002 Baseball Canada Senior Championship with the Dartmouth Moosehead Dry and returned for the 2009 WBC to play for the Prince George Westcana Electric Axemen.
The fact he has earned a special place in the hearts of P.G. baseball fans isn't lost on Doucette, a resident of Dartmouth, N.S.
"I'm pretty well-known in town now so it's always nice to come back," said the 40-year-old Doucette, who, earlier in life, spent four years in the St. Louis Cardinals organization and played seven seasons of minor pro ball. "I appreciate [general manager] Scott [MacKenzie] and [coach] Dave [Laing] giving me the opportunity to come out one more time and contribute to the team. I just love coming out here -- it's a great town and hopefully we can go a long way in this tournament."
Doucette plans to retire from competitive baseball at the end of this season but, right now, he's absorbing every experience possible while in a Team Canada jersey -- a shirt that barely stretches over his powerful chest, shoulders and arms.
Doucette's first home run in the 2011 WBC came in Canada's 6-2 win against the Beijing Tigers on Monday. He got a change-up in his wheelhouse and launched the ball over the beer gardens in right field. Up until that point, opposing pitchers had wisely been staying away from him.
"As a power guy and a guy that's well-known in this tournament, it's no secret," he said in reference to pitchers having to be cautious when throwing to him. "I've just got to wait for a mistake and don't miss it."
Now that he's into his fourth decade of life, Doucette is old enough to have fathered several of his Team Canada mates. He's not bothered by being the old guy in the dugout. In fact, he's relishing the chance to hang out with the young bucks and is taking full advantage of his time with them.
"It's a huge thrill," he said. "I've learned from the best in my pro career and now I'm able to pass on to some of the younger players some of my knowledge. That's how baseball works. It's a thrill to see the kids develop and hopefully one day they'll get where I was."
Back home, Doucette still plays for the Moosehead Dry. From Aug. 25-29 in Chatham, N.B., the club will represent Nova Scotia at the Baseball Canada Senior Championship. Doucette will be looking to add to the national titles he won in 2004 and 2005.
A third Canadian crown would be the perfect way for him to close out his career.
"It would be nice, especially so close to home," he said. "It's only four hours away from Dartmouth so it would be almost like a home win."
